Bulgaria special because Great Wall Motor set up a factory there.
2012 will stay in the history of automobile as the year the Chinese started manufacturing cars in Europe. The Great Wall factory opened in Lovech, Bulgaria, in February 2012. This is planned as the focal point for Great Wall’s expansion throughout Europe. For the moment three Great Wall models are produced in Bulgaria: the Voleex C10 hatchback, Hover H5 SUV and Steed Pick-up. It looks like the Voleex C30 sedan could also be added to Great Wall’s Bulgarian factory lines soon.
TURBOII030
BAHOVITSA, Bulgaria — Great Wall Motors launched operations in Bulgaria on Tuesday, becoming the first Chinese automaker to assemble cars in the European Union. At a ceremony in the village of Bahovista, the major Chinese sports utility vehicle maker said it will start with an initial production of 2,000 cars a year, with the output gradually rising to 50,000 annually by 2014. The car plant, owned by Great Wall and Bulgaria’s Litex Motors, will initially produce cars aimed at the local market. Future targets could include Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Serbia. Great Wall officials said the aim is to gradually… Read more »
Bulgaria 6 months 2012 – brands: Pos Brand 2012 % 2011 % Pos 2010 1 Volkswagen 1,304 10.9% 1,863 8.3% 1 4 2 Toyota 1,051 8.8% 1,786 7.9% 3 2 3 Dacia 913 7.6% 1,521 6.7% 6 5 4 Skoda 776 6.5% 1,383 6.1% 7 12 5 Peugeot 752 6.3% 1,543 6.8% 5 3 6 Ford 734 6.1% 1,854 8.2% 2 1 7 Renault 664 5.5% 1,290 5.7% 8 7 8 Kia 593 5.0% 486 2.2% 16 17 9 Opel 543 4.5% 1,582 7.0% 4 6 10 Great Wall 516 4.3% 137 0.6% 24 – 11 Citroen 512 4.3% 1,103… Read more »
Over the first 6 months of 2012, Great Wall is up from #24 in 2011 to #10 in the brands ranking with an impressive 516 units sold for a 4.3% market share.